It's Just An Empty Threat- ASUU Replies FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has replied the federal government over its threat to sack university lecturers if they fail to call off its ongoing strike.

According to the striking lecturers, the threat would not only fail but will worsen the situation, hence "another long path to making the strike linger more than necessary."

The ASUU National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, while responding to the government's directive, said the threat does not hold waters as it has confirmed the fears that the federal government cannot be trusted.

He said, "With the latest action, the federal government has shown that they are not committed to all they have been saying. We are saying that since we agreed at the meeting that the sum of 200 billion naira is for 2012 and 2013 revitalisation, the federal government should deposit same in the Central Bank of Nigeria. We are already in November and December is around the corner. If they don't do that now, when do they want to do it? We are saying that the non-victimization clause should be included as agreed while the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement should be included as agreed with the presidents".

"It is a pity if the federal government is not willing to perfect the resolutions reached with the union. This is why we find it difficult to trust our leaders by their words. How can someone be threatening to sack lecturers when universities are already short-staffed by almost 60,000. We are not in the military era. The military tried it and failed. This one will fail again.

"They can re-open the school. ASUU did not shutdown the universities. It was the management of the schools that ordered the students to go back home."